Through the Looking Glass: Developing a career in OD as a transformative change process. This session was intended for OD students and new practitioners. The moderator facilitated with three panelists who discussed transitioning to a career in OD.

1. Careers in Organization
Development
My Journey – Scott Span, MSOD
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2. 2

3. S.W.O.T
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4. Star Model
* Galbraith, Jay R. 1973 4

5. Who Do You Want To Be Professionally?
• Do you want to be in a support
function, a delivery role, a design role
or a combination?
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6. Who Do You Want To Be Professionally?
• Do you want to be known as a subject
matter expert (SME) in specific
areas of OD or be known as a
generalist?
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7. Who Do You Want To Be Professionally?
• Do you want to be a ‘work alone’
consultant or a ‘collaborator?’
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8. Who Do You Want To Be Professionally?
• Do you want to be known as ‘you’ or as
a ‘brand?’
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9. Who Do You Want To Be Professionally?
• Do you want to be a social justice
crusader or a corporate practitioner?
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10. Other Considerations In Starting
Your Own OD Practice…
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11. Lessons Learned In Starting
My Own OD Practice…
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12. Parting Thoughts…
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13. Scott Span, MSOD
www.tolerosolutions.com
Email: Scott.Span@tolerosolutions.com
Twitter: SSpanTolero 13

14. Careers in Organization
Development
My Journey - Sunny Hester
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15. Sunny’s Decision Points
• Translating “techspert” to Consultant – Finance
and Accounting background
• Previous experiences already: mega-corporation;
mid-size corporation; defense contractor;
dot.com; non-profit; and 8A – process of
elimination – public sector.
• Salary considerations
• Type of Work – leverage professional highlights
while exercising new skills
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16. Keys to Success
• Network, network, network
• Don’t throw away the past for the future and..
• “Don’t let the past dictate who you will become in
the future.”
• Know Thyself – Trust Thyself
• Have models, methodologies and theories in your
tool-box; but don’t lead with them in your work.
• Be tenacious – Don’t give up!
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17. Public Sector Tips
• OD work can be program specific, strategic, or in
response to an issue or change needed.
– Strategic at the Department level
– Specific at the Program level
– In response to an uncovered area of needed
improvement or violation
• Scan the environment:
– Watch and read the federal news
– What’s happening on the Hill
• Scan your networks:
– Join network groups – look for opportunities
– Volunteer with other OD professionals
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18. Public Sector Tips – Cont’d.
• Positions “hidden” within job series:
– 0343 – Management and Program Analyst
– 0201 – Human Resources Specialist
– 0301 – General and Administrative
• As an internal, you may often be “an extra pair of
hands.”
• Classes available if you want continuing
development: GS Graduate School (formerly
USDA Graduate School); Management Concepts;
The Capitol.Net; Learning Tree; Government
Training Institute, etc., etc…
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19. Factors in Managing Complex Change (Model)
Vision + Skills + Incentive + Resources + Action Plan = Change
+ Skills + Incentive + Resources + Action Plan = Confusion
Vision + + Incentive + Resources + Action Plan = Anxiety
Vision + Skills + + Resources + Action Plan = Resistance
Vision + Skills + Incentive + + Action Plan = Frustration
Vision + Skills + Incentive + Resources + = Treadmill
Source: Creating an Inclusive School. Adapted by Knoster, Villa, and Thousand, ASCD, 1995
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20. Closing – what are your
questions?
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